Super Stallions in the Parade of Flight

Pearl Harbor survivor Robert Ruffato, 87, of San Diego waits for the show to start aboard the Midway.

100 Years of Naval Aviation

About 200 aircraft will fly over San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 12 as part of the Centennial of Naval Aviation. The "Parade of Planes" begins at 1 p.m. when vintage planes fly over San Diego Bay. The aircraft will arrive from the south, passing over the Coronado Bridge.

Photos

The 'Parade of Flight' celebration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation has concluded but you can relive the event on our blog.

3:11 p.m.

Here's the capper ... Almost 40 aircraft from the carrier USS Stennis just rushed in from the west, arriving as a wedge that was more than a mile wide. The planes gathered off to the west; the wing was too big to come together to the south. It would have strayed into Mexican airspace. The air wing flew directly over the Stennis, drawing applause from people on the Midway and down on the Embarcadero. The wing disappeared off to the east, passing above the city's skyscrapers. This sort of large formation has never seen witnessed before from San Diego.

Mitch Burch, 57, of Ramona, said, "That's just awesome. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. This is different from anything you'd see at another air show. It was much more grand."

3:04 p.m.

"Banking in over the Hotel Del," says announcer Karl Zingheim, are three Super Hornets.

3:02 p.m.

The announcer says that the air wing from the carrier Stennis should be arriving from the west in 10-15 minutes, capping off the show. Most of the jets will beF/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets. A Super Hornet is about 30 percent larger than a Hornet.

3:00 p.m.

One Prowler and two Growlers just shot over the bay. Quite an echo.

2:58 p.m.

Here comes a couple of F-16s, which were used in the 1980s and '90s for training at the 'Top Gun' program over at Miramar.

2:54 p.m.

The announcers on the Midway say that roughly another 10 aircraft will arrive from the South Bay. (Here come some F/A-18 Hornets). Then, the core of the air wing of the USS Stennis will arrive from the west. It is odd seeing commercial jets landing at Lindbergh Field while all of these military aircraft stream in from the south.

2:48 p.m.

We told you a couple of hours ago that one of the first planes we'd see would be a B-17 Flying Fortress. I don't recall seeing it yet. Not sure what's up with that.

2:45 p.m.

Puffs of dark smoke are visible in the direction of the Silver Strand. We're told that there's some kind of fire in the Tijuana area. The smoke is not related to the air show.

2:39 p.m.

Here come three SH-60 helicopters, which are in wide use by the Navy. There is a fourth one trailing the pack. These helicopters have/are used in anti-submarine warfare, and for many other missions. The Midway announcer says this last helicopter might be a combat photography helo. We will be getting great images later today.

2:34 p.m.

It is an odd thing to say in the middle of the winter. But the biggest problem today might be all the sunshine and heat. Lots of people sagging as they sit and stand in the sun ... off in the distance, a Ranger training helicopter approaches.